What is the history of the Philippines?
The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia located in the western Pacific Ocean. Its history can be traced back to pre-colonial times when it was inhabited by indigenous peoples such as the Negritos and Austronesians. During the 16th century, the Spanish colonial period began and the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1898. After the Spanish–American War, the United States took control of the Philippines and ruled it as a colony until 1946. Today, the Philippines is a democratic republic with a presidential system of government.